Hat-flanging machine.



GEORGE P. FOQTE, OF DANBUB- GUIENEGTIGUCL.

HAT-FLANGING MACHINE.

Application filed March 5, 1214,

T all whom/it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonen P. Foo'rn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Danbury, county of F airfield, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Flanging Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bat hanging apparatus, and the primary object thereof is to provide means for steaming the brims of soft hats so as to soften the stiffening substance, and to equally or uniformly dis tribute such substance throughout the brim,

and to prevent contact of the steam during the steaming process, with the crown or sweat band of the hat.

Further the invention has for its object novel and improved means for supporting the hat in position to enable same to be subjected to the steaming process and to allow the hattobe easily and quickly placed with: in and removed from theapparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type set forth in which the steam is admitted and distributed in the most advantageous manner, and to also provide means which can be easily and quickly applied to and removed from the hat for protecting same during the steaming process and to also enable the brim to be shaped after steaming thereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 00-0c of 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the filler block in position within the hat; and Fig. 4: is an. en larged fragmentary sectional. View of the forming rim and cover showing the dowel pin connection therebetween.

In proceeding in accordance with this in vention a steam box 1 is employed which has an open-top and a closed bottom 2, ledges being provided at the top of the box and projecting Within the be): interior. A metallic foraminous steaming receptacle i has a closed bottom 5 and an open top the free end portions of the sides and ends of which receptacle are bent outwardly to form flanges 6 which seat on the ledges 3 and support the steaming receptacle Within the box so that a steam space is provided between the bottom Specification. of Letters T-atent.

Patei'iteil Aug. 25, 191 a Serial no.

l tacle and between the sides and ends respectbxely of the box.

The box: bot tom 2 p re .ltlQCl with. a series of outlet pipes 7 which branch from a main pipe 8 the latter bein inclined so as to drain off the condensation water of the m. h SLQillll supply pipe 9 has a nozzle 10 which projects through. the box bottom i. and has a head 11 aflixed to its end, the head beiu closed at its outer end and provi. radial. or lateral steam L assages 13, whereby it will be seen that the steam will not be projected directly up against the hat, but will be projected horizontally instead, so as to evenly distribute the steam throughout tae area of the box bottom.

The means for supper the protecting; the crown and sweat band thereof :onsists of a former rim geriorl shaped to conform to the shape w -ch the finished brim is to possess a filling h 15 which projects within the hat opening, and a cover 16,

former rim lt and removably connector. thereto by dowel pins 17. The filling" block 15 has an annular groove 18 formed in its under face to proride linger holds which enable the blocl; to be placed into and remo-vxl from operative position. The periphery of the filling block 15 has a slr'ip of felt 19 secured thereto, a flange 20 extending outwardly from the strip for a purpose now to be set forth.

In operation, the rim first placed about the hat in the position shown in hi 2, after which the filling block i is inserted within the head ope ring of the hat, the felt strip 1?) engaging the sweat baud S of the hat and the flange 20 of said strip extending over the points of juncture of the sweat band with the base of the hat brim so as to seal the joint formed. by sewing of the sweat band to the brim base. The cover 16 is then placed in position on. the rim ii and is held in such position by the dowel pins 1'? above mentioned, i which position of the parts, depicted ig. 2 of the drawings, the entire hat protected except the major portion of the brim. The operator, as is evident, merely inserts the hat, held and protected in the manner described, within the steam receptacle so that the filling block 15 and the flange 20 "between the side and end walls of the box and receptacle respectively not only enables a uniform entry and distribution of the steam within the receptacle,.but also provides walls, which will trap the water of condensation and allow same to gravitate downwardly to the bottom 2 where the water will be drained off by the branches 7 and pipe 8 in an obvious manner. steam, as is evident, only acts on the brim and the latter when softened causes the stiffening substance to be uniformly distributed, and the operator removes the forming ring from the receptacle and by his hands manipulates or works the softened brim so that it conforms to the shape of the rim.

The felt lining or strip 19 which overlaps the sweat-band of the hat not only causes the removable filling block to fit snugly withinthe hat crown. and to hold the hat firmly in place, but the overlapping part or flange 20 protects the sweat-band so that the steam cannot affect it.

What is claimed is 2* 1. In a hat flanging apparatus, a steam box having its bottom provided with means for discharging water of condensation, a steaming receptacle depending within said box and having a perforated bottom which latter is spaced from the bottom of the box, the side walls of said receptacle being also perforated and spaced from the respective side walls of the box, and a steam inlet pipe extending up through the box bottom and terminating within the space between the bottom of said box and receptacle, said pipe being closed at the top and having lateral perforations whereby the steam will be initially discharged into said space in substantially a horizontal plane.

i In a hat flanging apparatus, a foraminous steaming receptacle and protecting means for the hat consisting of a forming rim which engages the inner side of the hat brim, a filling block having a felt strip secured to its periphery to engage the sweat band and a'flange which projects outwardly from said strip and across the joint between the sweat band and the brim and a cover The which incloses the hat crown and engages said rim. i

3. In a hat flanging apparatus, a foraminous steaming receptacle and protecting means for the hat consisting of a forming rim which engages the inner side of the hat brim, a filling block having a felt strip secured to its periphery to engage the sweat band and a flange which projects outwardly from said strip and across the joint between the sweat band and the brim and a cover which incloses the hat crown and engages said rim, said block and flange of the felt strip being for seating engagement on the bottom of said receptacle.

In a hat Hanging apparatus, a steam box, a foraminous steaming receptacle projecting within the box and having its bottom and sides spa ed from the bottom and sides respectively of the box, and meansin the space between the bottoms of the box and receptacle for supplying steam to the interior of the box to enable same to simultaneously enter the receptacle from the bottom and sides of the receptacle.

' 5. In a hat flanging apparatus, a steaming receptacle, and protecting means for the hat consisting of a forming rim, a filling block for insertion in the head opening of the hat, and means borne by said block for engaging the sweat band and sealing the joint between the sweat band and the hat brim and a cover for the hat crown engaged with the rim.

6. in a hat Hanging apparatus, a steaming receptacle, and protecting means for ram hat consisting of a forming rim, a filling block for insertion in the head opening of the hat, and means borne by said block for engaging the sweat band and sealing the joint between the sweat band and the hat brim and a cover for the hat crown engaged with therim, said block and means being for seating engagement on the receptacle bottom.

" In a device of the type set forth, a

l forming rim, a filling block within the rim,

a'co or on the rim, and means borne by the rim to engage the sweat band and to extend over the sewed edge of the latter.

lln testimony whereof I afliX my signature in aresence of two witnesses.

GEORGE'P. FQOTE. Witnesses CHARLES A. REED, ARTHUR G. Keen.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents..

Washington, 1). C. 

